Vapor generator operation



Nov. 17, 1936. QE. L UYCKE 2,051,353

A n VAPORGENERATOR OPERATION l Original Filed Nov. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Charles E. Lucke BY Nov. 17, 1936. Q E, LUCKE 2,061,363

VAPOR GENERATOR OPERATION Original Filed Nov. 17, 1931 2 Sheetsv-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Charles E. L ucke in disclosed but not claimed a novel methodand moored Nov. 17, `1936 charles E. more, New voi-k, N. Y., signor zo l Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware f original application November-17, 193i, No.

Divided and this lapplication January 1 2, 1935, Serial No. .1,565 e 18 Claims. (Cl. 122-451)vv e This invention relates to the proportioning of flowing fluids and forms a division of my copending application Serial No. 575,604 flledNovember 17,l 1931, for Regulating valves. y

In the said co-pending application I have disclosed and claimed a new and novel 'regulating valve for automatically proportionlng the steam vto radiant and convection type superheaters of a steam generating boiler, rthe proportioning of water feed, and for similar usages. I have thereapparatus for proportionally distributing the ow Vof fluid to a plurality of parallel flow paths in a power producing or utilizing apparatus as well as the method of `operating such apparatus, and which method 'and apparatusv I will now cover by more detailed description and will claim by the present specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a method and apparatus for dividing or proportioning a flowing fluid to a plurality of separate paths in desired proportionality or relation.

Another object of the invention is to distribute the liquid supplied to avapor generator having a plurality of parallel circuits in desired proporf tionality to the circuits. l .v

A further .Objectis to so distribute the liquid feed to a plurality of parallel circuits of a'vapor generator, according to a function. ofthe total flow of liquid feed.

A stmrurthor object isy ioprovido, a method of operating a vapor generator of the type disclosed, in new and novel manner.. Y e

Still another object is to' proportion a flowing fluid into a plurality of separate flows according to a dependent or independent variable or a function thereof. y

Still further objects willbecome apparent from the drawings and description forming the speciilc'ation of my invention. j e

In the drawings: e f l Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation in sectional elevationof one embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 isa sectional elevation of a regulating valve. l f

Fig'. -3 isa. somewhat diagrammatic sectional elevation of a second embodimentv of my invention.-y g

Figgiis a somewhat diagrammatic representation'of a further embodiment Vof my invention in connection witha once-throughl boiler.

Fig. 5 is afsectional elevation of a. -fragment of a regulating valve.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line e-L-s in theairooti'on of the arrows of the regulating valve illustrated in Fig. 4. e, y "Figa 7 is a section'through the regulating valve oi'v Fig. 1 along the lines l-A-T in the direction of the arrows.

The drawings as a ywhole are ay duplication of the drawings of myco-pending application Serial No. 575,604 of which the present specification is a division. f K y The embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. l relates to a vapor generator, suchffor example asa steam. boiler that is provided with two superheaters, one of which mayv be heated by radiant heat from'the boiler furnace and the other. heated by contact with vthe hot gases of combustionpasslng overit; The lsteam passing through the respective superheaters is .desirably so proportioned that the proper degree of'superheat can be obtained regardless'of variations in the load. The steam from the steam drum of the boiler is causedto pass through the two superheaters in parallel. .The most orali of the steam is caused to pass through the radiantly heated f superheater at low ratings, and larger-.proportions of the steam are passed through the other superheater at higher ratings.

Reference character i indicates the furnace I lto which fuel for` combustion is fired through any vconventional burner 1, or otherwise, dependilns upon the nature of thefuel.

` The conduit 4 ieadsrio the inlet. of o two-way valve 8, havingv an outlet .9 communicating by means of` a pipe l0 with the radiantV superheater' 6, and an outlet II communicating by means oi' a pipe I2 with the super-heater 5. The outlets of the two superheaters are connected to a main steam header Il through the pipes Il and I5.-

As' is `well known, a-characteristicof radiant 'heat superheaters isthat the temperaturel ofthe steam leaving the superheater decreases withan increase in the rate of steam;l flow therethrough, whereas the temperature of the steam at the outlet of a convectionk type superheater, such as is indicated at '5, increases with an increase in the rate of steam flow therethrough. It is-apparent therefore that by having a portion of the steam which is generated by the boiler pass through the radiant heated superheater and the remainder' superheat may be maintained in the header I3 regardless of the rate of operation of the boiler. 'I'he valve which I indicate generally at 3, and whose peculiar design and function is claimed in my referred to co-pending application, will automatically so divide the steam discharged by the boiler through the two superheaters as to maintain the proper steam temperature at the header I3, which temperature may be held constant throughout the range of output of the boiler or may be caused to vary in any manner desired.

In a casing I5 of the valve 3 is an upper cylindricalmember the lower end of which is serrated as indicated at I3 and which when positioned axially of the casing across the outlet 9 serves to control the flow of fluid therethrough. A lower cylindrical member I9, the upper end of which is serrated as indicated at 23, controls the ow of fluid through the outlet The upper member is spaced from and held relative to the lower member I9 by a rod 2| screw-threaded into a closed head provided at the lower end of the lower member |9 asA at 22, the said rod 2| being threaded through a spider 23 normal to the axis of the upper member The lower portion of the casing I5, together with a connecting pipe 24, and a chamber 25, form a U-tube containing a liquid such as mercury for example generally indicated at 26. The chamber 25 communicates with the steam header |3 through a pipe 21. The `assembly comprising the cylindrical member,l I1, the cylindrical member I9, and the rod 2|, are free to move axially in the casing I6; the member |9 being kept from rotation within the casing I5 through the agency of a spline 23. The lower head 22 of the member I9 rests upon the surface of the mercury 26 and is caused to rise and fall within the casing I6 upon variation in. elevation of the mercury within the casing I6.

As is Well known, upon an increase in the rate oi steam output from the boiler the pressure drop through the superheaters between the conduit 4 and the header I3 will increase, while with ay decrease in the rate of steam output the pressure drop will decrease. Inasmuch as the pressure of the steam in the conduit 4 is effective upon the surface of the mercury in the casing I5, and the pressure of the steam in the header |3 is eective upon the surface of the mercury in the chamber 25, a variation in pressure between the steam in the conduit 4 and the steam in the header I3 will cause a variation in level of thev mercuryY in the two legs of the U-tube in awell-known manner. Thus for an increase in rate of discharge of steam from the boiler, the level of mercury within the .casing I3 will tend to fall while the level of the mercury within the chamber 25-will tend to rise, with a resulting lowering of the movable parts of the valve 3, namely, the members-I1 and I9 and their connecting rod 2|. i

It will be noted that the arrangement of Fig. 1 is that of no steam being discharged from the boiler and correspondingly no pressure differential existing between the conduit 4 and the steam header I3. 'I'he absence of apressure differential across the U-tube, comprising the casing I5, the connecting pipe 24, and the chamber 25, results in the mercury. being at the same level in both legs of the U-tube corresponding to a zero position, and the movable parts of the valve assembly in one extreme of their travel.

In operation, as the rate oi' steam discharged from the. boiler through theA conduit 4 increases, the pressure differential between the boiler and the header I3 increases, with a resulting lowering of the mercury within the casing I6 and lowering of the valve assembly whereby the passage to the outlet 9 is decreased', while the passage to the outlet II isvincreased; for in lowering the member its ports become less effective for passage of steam to the outlet 9, while the ports of the member I9 become more eiective for passage of the steam to the outlet I I. Thus with an increase in the rate of output of steam from the boiler a lesser .percentage of the steam will flow through the radiant superheater 5, while a greater percentage will flow through the convection superheater 5, as is desired. The result is a temperature of steam in the header I3 in desired relation to the rate oi.' output of the boiler.

The pressure drop through the superheaters between the conduit 4- and the header I3 bears a functional relation to the rate of steam flow therethrough, as does, the relation between the temperature at the outlet of the superheaters and the rate of steam flow therethrough, which relation may vary with different boilers. therefore desirable to provide means for modifying the motion of the valve member within the casing I6 in Vresponse to changes in the pressure drop so that regardless of the relationship existing between such factors, the proper amount of superheat can be maintained in the total steam passing from the boiler. Asa means of so modifying the motion of the valve members, which I accomplish by modifying the rise and fall of mercury within the casing I6, I have shown a displacer 29 which may be of a desired shape, positioned within the chamber 25 by means of a screw threaded rod 3|) and having a hand wheel 3| for raising and lowering it.

The displacer 29 acts to progressively vary the cross-sectional area of the chamber 25 to modify the proportion of the total mercury deflection in the U-tube which takes placein that leg of the Utube.` I further employ in the chamber 25 a submerged displacing member 32 taking the form of a screw threaded rod passing through the wall of 'the casing 25, and always submerged in the mercury 26, to the end that the zero pressure differential level of the mercury in the two legs of the U-tube may be varied by screwing the displacing member 32 further in or further out of the interior of the chamber 25, thus displacing more or less of the mercury 29.

As a further form of adjustability of the regulating valve I have shown a hand wheel 33 connected to a rod 34 having its lower .end forked as at 35 for engagement with holes in the spider 23, whereby rotation of the hand wheel 33 causes rotation of the cylindrical member I1 relative to the screw threaded rod 2|. A result of such rotation of the hand wheel 33 is that the member I1 will be positioned axially closer to or further from the member I9, thus varying the basic spacing of the members and of the port openings opposite the discharge passages 9 and By the construction shown I may vary the relative spacing of the members I1 and I9 along the rod 2| while uid is flowing through the regulating valve,

making such adjustment external by means of the hand wheel 33 and without in any way inter- It Ils" sembly within the casing I6.

n wiube seenihattnrough the mstrmemanty of theadjusting hand wheel 33 arid the displacing member 32 I mayvary the proportionality between thedischarge r9 and I I,-while through the shapezand position, oi the displacing member 29 I may make the proportionality follow a functional ordesiredrelation with the rate of flow of steam through the conduit 4from the boiler.

j InFig. 1 I have purposely shown the regulating valve assembly to much-larger scale than the boiler and boiler piping to make clear the features of my invention.` I show in Fig. '1 a section through the valve assembly above the spider 23 to show clearly the formation of the spider' across" the member l1 andthe engagement therewith ci' the fork 35 for turning the member l10n the screw'threaded rod-2|. i f- I show in Fig. 28a valve', assembly which is similar to the assembly of Fig;,1, in that a fluid entering the casing through one opening, suchas is indicated at 36,- is proportioned-in its exit In Fig. '5 'I have illustrated a section throughI a fragment of a regulating valve assemblywhere-` in the ports of the serrated end of the cylindrical member such as that of 42 are curved or shaped to take into account a variabledischarge of fluid through the ports in relation to axial movement thereof, and in desired relationship thereto to compensate for characteristics or relationships as desired.`

y Itis not essential to the functioning of my in`- vention that the pressure differential effective upon the surfaces of the mercury in they U-tube be that of the same uid which is iiowing through and proportioned by the regulating valve. In Fig. 3 Ishow a regulating valve generally indi-l cated at 430i similar construction to the valve 8 of Fig. 1, but wherein the valve casing is partitioned off from the U -tube by a partition suchas indicated at 44, while the rod` 45.upon which are carriedthe two valve members-HA and ISA extends through the partition 44 to engage a piston part 46 cooperating in a cylinder l41 .forming one leg of the U-tube, of which a chamber 48 forms the other leg connected through a pipe 49. The

U-tube741, 48, 49 contains mercury and applied.

across the U-tube is a pressure differential bearing a known relation to the rate of fluid flow through a conduit such as 50, in which is positioned a fiow nozzle 5| or other pressure diierence creating device. At lmiipositesides of the flow nozzle 5| tothe conduit 50` are connected pipes 52 and 53'joining respectively the low pressure leg 4B and the high pressure leg 41 of 'the U-tube.

In operation, wheniluid 'flowing through the conduit in the direction of the arrow increases as to rate of iiow, the pressure differential across the ilow nozzle 5I increases, whereby a greater relative pressure is effective within the chamber 41 than through the pipe52 upon the mercury in v*the chamber 48, causingthe mercury in the chamber 41 to lower in its level and the mercury Ifin the chamber 48 to rise in its level, thereby resulting in a positioning of thefvalve mechanism within the casing 43 downwardly. When the rate of flow of uid through the conduit 50 tends to decrease, the reverse is true, and the ,valve mechanism within the casing.43 will be `moved upwardly.

In general the construction illustrated'in Fig. 3 is that of moving the valve proportioning means relative to the discharge openings from the valve rcasing in accordance with a measure of the rate of ow of a iluidother than that `which is passing through the valve casing.

In Fig. 4 I Vdepictan apparatus wherein 'I de- `sirably proportion -a ilowingfiuid to more than two discharge openings of the valve casing. For

example, water beingfed to the'parallel circuits 54, 55 and'56` of annee-#through boiler indicated generally at 51, isv so proportioned through the agency of a regulating valve supplied by a conduit59. A v l The supply of water tothe conduit 59 may be from a pump or header system, and the total ilow of water to the boiler may be controlled before `such water reaches the regulating valve i8,` so that the regulating valve 58 serves not to 'control vthe supply ofv water to the boiler as a whole lbut to controlthe. proportioning of such water which is supplied tothe boiler between the three ciric'uits 54,55 and se.

The waterbeing fed through the conduit 58 passes through a pressure diierence creating device, such as a flow nozzle 60, whereby a pressure Y difference is created across the nozzle which bears ak known `relation to the rate of ow of fluid therethrough. This essure difference istransmitted through pipes 6I and 62 to the high and low pressure sides respectively of a vU-tube wherel yin the level of a sealing liquid such as mercury is varied for the axial positioning of the regulating valve members within thefcasing 58 to result inaproportioning of the water flowing through the conduity 59 to the parallel circuits of the boiler51 in desired manner.

`It will be seen that I provide in this embodiment means for introducing functional relationbetween rate of fluid flow and proportionality of discharge, as well as means for adjusting the initial proportionality of discharge, orportopening with no discharge,r and further that I may vary the relationship of the three cylindrical valve members relative to-the discharge ports by spacing .them closer together or further apart uponthe rod to which they are held. f

In effect I may cause the water fed tothe boiler 51 to be proportioned equally among Athe circuits of the boiler, or in desired proportionality between the circuits in a manner which" may depend upon the proportion of heating area .embodiedfin the diierent circuits or the portion of heating -area which is exposed to different degrees of temperature within the furnace or boiler passes. Furthermore it may be proportioned according tothe relationl of the heating areas of the different circuits exposed to radiant or convection heating, or to a combination of the two.

InFig. 4 the arrangement of the three cylindrical valve members is illustrated as giving fixed proportionality between the three pipes 54, 55 and V56.` This differs yfrom the arrangement of Fig. 3 for example, wherein the cylindrical members |1A, ISA have their serrated ends opposed axially of the valve casing so that as the valve assembly moves downward the port opening of the member HA becomes less effective, while that of the member I 9A becomes more effective, and vice versa as the assembly moves upward.

In general I have illustrated and described my invention in connection with a regulating valve or means for the dividing or proportioning of a flowing iiuid in dennite ratio or functional proportionality, or in desirable accordance with the magnitude of a variable. The apparatus is provided with means oi adjustment for varying the proportionality and which may have embodied in it means for correcting for undesirable characteristics or for compensating for known laws.

'I'he apparatus provides means for carrying out the new and novel methods of my invention in proportioning of aflowing fluid to a plurality of paths in accordance with a variable or a function of a variable.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the illustrations which I have shown and described may form only preferred embodiments of my invention and that I am not to be limited thereby except as to the claims in view of prior art What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:I

l.` The method ofoperating a vapor-generator having a plurality of once-through fluid conduits in parallel, each receiving liquid at one end and vdelivering superheated vapor at the othery and heated by a furnace, which includes establishing a desired proportionality of inflow of liquid between the plurality of conduits for a certain rate of operation, andautomatically'varying said proportionality throughout the range of operationv ofthe generator. *2. 'I'he method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of once-through uid conduits in parallel, each receivingliquid at one end and deliveringV superheated .vapor at the' other and heated by a furnace, which includes establishing a desired proportionality of inflow of liquid between the plurality of conduits for a certain rate of operation, obtaining a measure oi total liquid inflow, and utilizing such measure for automatically varying such proportionality throughout the range of operation of the generator.

3. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of once-through fluid conduits in parallel, each receiving liquid at one end and delivering superheated vapor atv the other and heated by a furnace, Vwhich includes establishing a desired proportionality of inflow of liquid between the plurality of conduits for a certain rate of operation, obtaining a measure of generator operation, and utilizing such measure for automatically'varying such proportionality throughout the range of 'operation of the generator.

4. In combination, a vapor-generator and heating means therefor, said vapor-generator comprising a multiplicity of long, small-bore, paraliel 'once-through conduits each receiving a forced accises plurality of paths for a certain rate of operation, and automatically varying said proportionality throughout the range, of operation of the generator.

6. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel fluid paths and heated by a furnace, which includes establishing a desired proportionality of fluid iiow between the plurality ofv paths i'or a certain rate of operation. obtaining apmeasure of total uid flow, and utilizing such measure for automatically varying said proportionality throughout the range of operation of the generator.

7. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel uid paths and heated by a furnace, which includes establishing 'a desired proportionality of fluid flow between the plurality of paths for a certain rate of operation, obtaining a measure of generator operation, and utilizing such measure for automatically varying such proportionality throughout the range of operation of the generator.

l 8. 'Ihe method of operating power producing or utilizing apparatus having a plurality of parallel fluid flow paths, which includes establishing a desired proportionality of fluid flow between the plurality of paths, obtaining a measure of total'iiuid now, and utilizing such measure for automatically varying such proportionality throughout the range of operation of the apparatus. v

9. The method of operating power producing or utilizing apparatus having a plurality of parallel fluid ilow paths, which includes obtaining a measure of total fluid ow, and'utilizing such measure for proportioning the total uid iiow tothe plurality of paths.

10. The method of operating a vapor-generator having small liquid storage and a high rate of evaporation and having parallel vapor ow paths, which includes measuring total vaporrgenerated, and utilizing such measure for proportiohing the total vapor flow to the plurality of paths.

11. The method of operating a vapor-generator having vsmall liquid storage and a high rate of evaporation and having parallel vapor flow paths, which includes proportioning the vapor generated to the vapor flow paths according to rate of generator operation.

12. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel fluid paths and heated by a furnace, which includes establishing a desiredl proportionality of fluid flow between the plurality of paths for each rate of operation, obtaining a measure of total fluid flow, and utilizing such measure for automatically maintaining said proportionality throughout the range of operation of the generator.

13. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel fluid paths and Aheated by a furnace, which includes establishing a desired proportionality of fluid ilow between the plurality of paths for each rate of operation, obtaining a measure of generator operation, and utilizing such measure for automatically maintaining said proportionality throughout the range of operation of the generator. v 14. The method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel fluid paths and heated by a furnace, which includes the step of maintaining the total flow resistance of each path substantially constant throughout the range of generator operation. s

15. A method of operating a vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel fluid paths and heated by a furnace, which includes the step of maintaining the total ow resistance from liquid inlet to vapor outlet substantially constant throughout the range or generator operation.

16. The method oi operating power producing or utilizing apparatus having a plurailty of parallel uid ow paths, which includes continuously obtaining a measure of rate of operation of 'the apparatus, and utilizing such measure for pro- -portioning the total fluid flow to the plurality of paths.

17. In combination, a vapor-generator and heating means therefor, said vapor-generator having a plurality of parallel iluid paths. means CHARLES E. LUCKE. 

